Why do I get charged a processing fee?

Asked by: Katelynn Gutmann  |  Last update: May 6, 2025
Score: 4.8/5 (12 votes)

Simply put, when a customer pays for goods or services the business has to pay the bank a fee in order to accept the payment.

Why am I being charged a processing fee?

Credit card processing fees are the fees a merchant pays for each credit or debit card sale. This fee is predetermined by your merchant services provider and can include fees such as interchange fees, assessment or service fees, chargeback fees, and more.

How do I avoid payment processing fees?

Strategies to lower credit card processing fees include buying your payment terminals instead of leasing, staying PCI compliant, finding the best merchant services provider for your business, considering surcharging or cash discounts, and avoiding cancellation fees.

Is it legal to charge customers a processing fee?

Merchants can impose a surcharge as long as it doesn't exceed the cost of the merchant's processing fee. Merchants may offer discounts for payment by cash, check or other methods unrelated to credit cards. There is no prohibition for credit card surcharges and no statute on discounts for different payment methods.

Do you get processing fees back?

Some do, some don't. In the open market, there's no requirement that processors return the processing fees on refund transactions.

Why Using Your Credit Card Is Getting More Expensive | WSJ

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Can processing fee be waived off?

You can request the lender to waive it off. Having a high credit score makes it easier to waive it off. No, the processing fee is not included in EMI. It is a percentage of the loan amount and charged upfront from loan amount or charged separately before the EMI starts.

Why pay processing fee?

This is called processing fee. It can be deductible from the loan amount, or you may pay it separately. Usually, it is a small percentage of the principal amount you borrow. Loan companies charge processing fee to cover costs such as documentation, verification, agreement, etc.

Can you dispute a processing charge?

Only posted transactions can be disputed (pending charges are temporary and may change). If you have any immediate concerns about a pending charge, contact the merchant directly. The merchant's contact information is typically found on your receipt or billing statement.

In what states is it illegal to surcharge?

Currently, credit card surcharging is illegal in the following states and territories:
  • Connecticut.
  • Maine.
  • Massachusetts.
  • New York (as currently interpreted)
  • Puerto Rico.

How do you pass processing fees to customers?

Credit card surcharging and cash discounting are the two main options for passing on fees. Adding a surcharge to credit card payments is not legal in every state, but offering a cash discount is. Implementing minimum purchase amounts and convenience fees can help control costs, too.

How do I cancel a processing charge?

A pending transaction will affect the amount of credit or funds you have available, effectively deducting money from your account. Canceling a pending transaction usually requires contacting the merchant who made the charge. Once a pending transaction has posted, contact your bank or card issuer to dispute it.

Are processing fees necessary?

To serve customers, almost all merchants must offer credit cards as a payment option, even if they come with the added expense of credit card processing fees. Credit card processing fees are a necessary business expense.

How do I not pay transaction fees?

The most effective way of minimising fees is to avoid paper-based and over-the-counter transactions. If you are writing cheques to pay for regular payments, check to see if alternatives are available - these generally have lower fees: Direct Debit.

How can I avoid processing fees?

8 ways to minimize payment processing fees
  1. Review your statement regularly. Your statement shouldn't have any surprises. ...
  2. Switch processors. ...
  3. Try surcharging. ...
  4. Set a credit card minimum. ...
  5. Accept cards in person. ...
  6. Chargeback policies and fraud prevention. ...
  7. Offer cash discounts. ...
  8. Partner with Sekure.

Why have I been charged a transaction fee?

Transaction fees are the expenses that businesses need to pay to their payment service provider every time the provider processes an electronic payment for a Card Present or Card Not Present transaction. Transaction fees can vary slightly, depending on the payment service provider.

Is it legal to charge a fee for using a debit card?

No. The ability to surcharge only applies to credit card purchases, and only under certain conditions. U.S. merchants cannot surcharge debit card or prepaid card purchases.

Are processing fees legal?

They are legal in most states, but businesses must: Disclose any surcharges at the point of sale and on the receipt. Apply surcharges only to credit card transactions. Limit the minimum payment to $10 or less.

What happens if you don't pay a surcharge?

The court issues a judgment, which allows the state to collect unpaid surcharges through involuntary means. The judgment amount (surcharge debt) must be paid before personal property can be transferred or sold. Judgments include a collection cost and interest charges calculated on the judgment balance.

How to avoid convenience fees?

Use a different payment method.

Merchants often charge convenience fees or surcharges when credit cards aren't a standard payment method. If you have a rent, utility or tax bill, consider paying by check or electronic transfer instead.

Is it illegal to charge a customer for credit card processing?

The answer is: yes, if your business operates in states where it is legal to do so. As of the time of publishing this, the practice of imposing additional fees on credit card transactions (i.e., credit card surcharges) is prohibited in only three U.S. locations: Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Puerto Rico.

Can a processing payment be reversed?

Banks may reverse payments when they find evidence of fraud or unauthorized charges during customer disputes. To avoid chargebacks, merchants must quickly address customer complaints about unauthorized transactions. Robust fraud detection mechanisms can help minimize these issues.

What happens if you falsely dispute a charge?

In a Nutshell

These claims can result from misunderstandings, fraud, or attempts to bypass return policies. The cardholder can face consequences for chargeback abuse, including account freezes, losing one's bank account, damage to one's credit score, and even legal consequences.

Why do I have to pay a processing fee?

Payment processing fees refer to fees charged to merchants for processing credit card payments and online payments from customers. The amount of payment processing fees depends on the pricing model preferred by the payment processor, as well as the level of risk of the transaction.

What is a normal processing fee?

The average credit card processing fees range from 1.5 percent to 3.5 percent of each transaction, according to industry analysts, although the final percentage depends on a host of factors.

Is the processing fee refundable?

Is the processing fee a one-time payment for a housing loan? Yes, the processing fee for a housing loan is typically a one-time payment. It is charged by the lender to cover administrative expenses associated with loan approval and disbursement. This fee is non-refundable, even if the loan application is rejected.